Lade - 0800hrs - mild, cloudy, s 5 - A blustery wind made for limited coverage on the local patch with the only migrants being singles of Wheatear and Stonechat, plus five Swallows. All the usual wildfowl on south lake and around 200 Curlews flew in to roost on the storm beaches.
Dungeness - 1100-1200hrs - Only had time for a brief seawatch off the boats in the company of CP and PB. The sea was lively with waves crashing on shore and deep troughs further out. A steady passage of Black-headed and Common Gulls was underway with several Little and Mediterranean Gulls also on the move, along with 50 Sandwich and 30 Common Terns, 25 Brents, 10 Common Scoter, 10 Gannets and seven Wigeon, while DW located a likely candidate for a juv/1st winter Baltic Gull on the beach.
Monday, 6 October 2014
Sunday, 5 October 2014
Bearded Tits and Chiffchaffs
Dengemarsh - 0900hrs - warm, dry and sunny - Mrs PT joined us this morning for a circuit of Dengemarsh in glorious autumnal sunshine, on one of Barney`s favourite walks. The bushes around the ARC car park were alive with tits, Robins, Chaffinches, Dunnocks, Wrens, Goldfinches,Tree Sparrows, two Blackcaps and above all Chiffchaffs, plundering the myriads of small flying insects. Across the road at Boulderwall the Cattle Egret showed well amongst the suckling herd at either end of our walk along with ten Bearded Tits in the first reedbed. At the Corral five Stonechats, three Wheatears, several Mipits and Reed buntings, Swallows and Skylarks overhead. The willow spinney by Badgers was full of Chiffchaffs, two Goldcrests, a Greater pecker and a small flock of Long-tailed tits. Out across the farm track towards Dengemarsh Road there were more showy Bearded Tits, Cetti`s Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Reed Buntings in the ditches with Mipits, Skylarks and Stock Doves on the newly drilled wheat fields. By the chicken sheds a Grey Wagtail was a surprise find amongst the Pieds while from Springfield Bridge thermalling/hunting/hovering raptors included eight Kestrels, five Marsh Harriers, three Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk. A Kingfisher, more Beardies, two Great White and three Little Egrets were noted around the lake, but the hayfields were empty apart from three Wheatears.
A very pleasant stroll during which we rattled up 69 species of birds with the highlights being the large numbers and good views of Beardies and Chiffs.
Bearded Tit, Boulderwall
Cattle Egret, Boulderwall
A very pleasant stroll during which we rattled up 69 species of birds with the highlights being the large numbers and good views of Beardies and Chiffs.
Saturday, 4 October 2014
Greyhound of the Ocean
Lade - warm, dry, sunny, sw 3 - Another muggy night with plenty of common autumnal moths in the garden trap. On the local patch there was a light overhead passage south of Swallows, Mipits, Linnets, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, two Tree Pipits and a Yellow Wagtail. Around the willow swamp five Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap. South lake was covered in birds at the south end sheltering from an increasing southerly wind; a quick guesstimate came up with just short of 2,000 birds, mainly Coots, feral geese and Mute Swans, plus sundry grebes, Moorhens, Wigeons, Gadwalls, Mallard, Shovelers Tufted Ducks and Teal.
Bird bio-mass, Lade
Dungeness - 0945 - 1145hrs - Marshman joined us for a pretty decent seawatch in blustery, but warm and sunny, weather conditions from the fishing boats. A steady down-Channel passage of terns logged 50 Sandwich and 20 Common Terns, 30 Gannets, 20 Brents, 12 Common Scoters, 20 auks (of which two were Razorbills, our first of the autumn) and at least six Arctic Skuas were either on the move or feeding offshore. Several pulses of Swallows (100 in total) went out and the oddest sighting of the watch was a coasting sub-adult male Marsh Harrier beating into the wind just above the waves. It didn`t look at all happy but eventually disappeared from view heading for France.
And then just after 1100hrs a tasty birthday treat in the form of a Sooty Shearwater hove into view. We picked it up fairly early on as it came across Hythe Bay and enjoyed superb scope views in bright sunshine for several minutes as it sheared in dramatic fashion on long, swept-backed rakish wings; the all dark plumage contrasting with silvery under-wing coverts as it banked and rounded the point reasonably close to shore; as always a real showstopper and one my favourite birds. It is simply mind-boggling to think how many thousands of miles of open sea this `Greyhound of the Ocean` must`ve covered since leaving its breeding grounds on a sub-Antarctic island.
RSPB - On the bird reserve this afternoon the Cattle Egret remained in the fields at Boulderwall, in association with the suckling herd, while from Makepiece hide six Snipe, two Dunlin, a Little Stint and Rock Pipit where on distant islands. Elsewhere on Burrows two Great White Egrets and six Pintails, but I could find no sign of the earlier Curlew Sandpiper.
The much forecasted rain eventually hit the peninsula around 1500hrs bringing proceedings to a close for the day.
Dungeness - 0945 - 1145hrs - Marshman joined us for a pretty decent seawatch in blustery, but warm and sunny, weather conditions from the fishing boats. A steady down-Channel passage of terns logged 50 Sandwich and 20 Common Terns, 30 Gannets, 20 Brents, 12 Common Scoters, 20 auks (of which two were Razorbills, our first of the autumn) and at least six Arctic Skuas were either on the move or feeding offshore. Several pulses of Swallows (100 in total) went out and the oddest sighting of the watch was a coasting sub-adult male Marsh Harrier beating into the wind just above the waves. It didn`t look at all happy but eventually disappeared from view heading for France.
And then just after 1100hrs a tasty birthday treat in the form of a Sooty Shearwater hove into view. We picked it up fairly early on as it came across Hythe Bay and enjoyed superb scope views in bright sunshine for several minutes as it sheared in dramatic fashion on long, swept-backed rakish wings; the all dark plumage contrasting with silvery under-wing coverts as it banked and rounded the point reasonably close to shore; as always a real showstopper and one my favourite birds. It is simply mind-boggling to think how many thousands of miles of open sea this `Greyhound of the Ocean` must`ve covered since leaving its breeding grounds on a sub-Antarctic island.
RSPB - On the bird reserve this afternoon the Cattle Egret remained in the fields at Boulderwall, in association with the suckling herd, while from Makepiece hide six Snipe, two Dunlin, a Little Stint and Rock Pipit where on distant islands. Elsewhere on Burrows two Great White Egrets and six Pintails, but I could find no sign of the earlier Curlew Sandpiper.
The much forecasted rain eventually hit the peninsula around 1500hrs bringing proceedings to a close for the day.
Friday, 3 October 2014
French tits...
Romelaere, St Omer - 0930hrs - warm, dry, sunny, light airs - Went under the water today with Marshman and four Marsh women for a day out near St Omer. After dropping the ladies in town we headed for the nearby wetland reserve, a series of lakes, canals and drainage ditches as a result of past peat cutting. It was a quiet time of year to visit such a site with many of the summer migrants gone but there was still plenty to keep us interested, in particular a large tit flock that contained two cracking Willow Tits a species I last saw in England at Dunstable Sewage Works in 2002. From the boardwalk a number of Long-tailed Tits were also noted along with a scattering of Chiffchaffs, Cetti`s Warblers, White Wagtails, Mipits, Tree Sparrows, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Skylark and Goldcrest. On the waters, and from the hide, many of the Great Crested Grebes still had attendant juvs, where also two Great White Egrets, Grey Heron, Lapwings, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Dabchicks, Cormorants, Shovelers, Gadwall, Swallows, House Martins, two Kingfishers and calling Water Rails in the main reedbed.
At one part of the site you have to cross a channel in a boat with a pull chain at either end which brings back memories of an incident about 12 years ago when a certain Dunstable birder stumbled into the water whilst trying to climb into the boat!
Romelaere Reserve, St Omer
Foret de Clairmarais - We then moved on to a nearby deciduous forest for a couple of hours where we noted at least four Marsh Tits amongst Long-tailed, Blue, Great and Coal Tits and one probable Crested Tit, albeit on call, plus Nuthatches, Greater pecker, Goldcrest, Jays and a Hobby.
Also of note here was a spanking White Admiral (very late to be still on the wing) butterfly along with plenty of Speckled Woods and Red Admirals, whilst at the former site we also had Peacock and Clouded Yellow.
Thanks to Marshman for driving on a day that will be remember for glorious autumnal sunshine, peace and tranquillity, plus black-capped tits.
At one part of the site you have to cross a channel in a boat with a pull chain at either end which brings back memories of an incident about 12 years ago when a certain Dunstable birder stumbled into the water whilst trying to climb into the boat!
Foret de Clairmarais - We then moved on to a nearby deciduous forest for a couple of hours where we noted at least four Marsh Tits amongst Long-tailed, Blue, Great and Coal Tits and one probable Crested Tit, albeit on call, plus Nuthatches, Greater pecker, Goldcrest, Jays and a Hobby.
Also of note here was a spanking White Admiral (very late to be still on the wing) butterfly along with plenty of Speckled Woods and Red Admirals, whilst at the former site we also had Peacock and Clouded Yellow.
Thanks to Marshman for driving on a day that will be remember for glorious autumnal sunshine, peace and tranquillity, plus black-capped tits.
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Chats, Chiffs & porpoises
Lade - 0700hrs - mild, cloudy, light airs - The warm night continued to yield a trap full of common autumnal moths, but with little quality apart from a Red Underwing on the summer house door.
Red Underwing, Lade
Dungeness - 0830hrs - Spent the day showing Lou, a guest from north Kent, around the peninsula in balmy weather conditions more akin to summer. After a brief look at the sea which produced a few Sandwich Terns, Gannets, Brents and singles of Guillemot, Med Gull and Arctic Skua we moved onto the land which was full of birds. Chiffchaffs were everywhere, we must`ve seen 50 between the Britannia and the Obs with at least a dozen in the lighthouse garden. Robins too were common place along with a clutch of chats: 15 Stonechats, six Black Redstarts (including two stunning, singing males) and singles of Common Redstart, Whinchat and Wheatear. Around 50 Mipits and Pied Wagtails were grounded on the edge of the Desert with a trickle of others overhead, plus Skylarks, Linnets, Greenfinches and Goldfinches. Several hundred House Martins made for an impressive sight flying around the chimney on B station.
Black Redstart, Dungeness
Mediterranean Gull adult, Dungeness
RSPB - Moving on to the bird reserve the Cattle Egret showed well amongst the cows at Boulderwall along with a large mixed flock of Mipits and Yellow Wags, and at least four Great Whites were noted across the site. On Burrowes a juv Little Stint was a surprise find while a male Peregrine performed to order in front of Makepiece and even landed and took a bath! All the usual wildfowl, gulls, grebes, Cormorants, egrets, Lapwings and four Snipe noted, plus Tree Sparrows in the car park scrub. From Springfield Bridge a rush of raptors with three each of Buzzard and Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel enjoying the midday thermals bouncing off the shingle, plus Raven, Kingfisher and Yellow Wagtails.
Next stop Hanson hide where three Black-necked Grebes, six Ruff and four Blackwits were amongst the usual ducks and plovers, and more Chiffchaffs from the Willow Trail.
Cattle Egret, Boulderwall
Peregrine bathing, Burrowes
Dungeness - We finished off with an hour at the fishing boats and a flat calm sea that yielded few seabirds apart from several passing Sandwich Terns, Med Gulls and nine Brents, plus a close Guillemot. However, the main spectacle was a count of at least 21 Harbour Porpoises, some feeding close to shore, and two Grey Seals.
In summary, a cracking day in the field with 82 species of birds, the highlights being the chats, a Cattle Egret, a bathing Peregrine and not forgetting those porpoises.
Dungeness - 0830hrs - Spent the day showing Lou, a guest from north Kent, around the peninsula in balmy weather conditions more akin to summer. After a brief look at the sea which produced a few Sandwich Terns, Gannets, Brents and singles of Guillemot, Med Gull and Arctic Skua we moved onto the land which was full of birds. Chiffchaffs were everywhere, we must`ve seen 50 between the Britannia and the Obs with at least a dozen in the lighthouse garden. Robins too were common place along with a clutch of chats: 15 Stonechats, six Black Redstarts (including two stunning, singing males) and singles of Common Redstart, Whinchat and Wheatear. Around 50 Mipits and Pied Wagtails were grounded on the edge of the Desert with a trickle of others overhead, plus Skylarks, Linnets, Greenfinches and Goldfinches. Several hundred House Martins made for an impressive sight flying around the chimney on B station.
RSPB - Moving on to the bird reserve the Cattle Egret showed well amongst the cows at Boulderwall along with a large mixed flock of Mipits and Yellow Wags, and at least four Great Whites were noted across the site. On Burrowes a juv Little Stint was a surprise find while a male Peregrine performed to order in front of Makepiece and even landed and took a bath! All the usual wildfowl, gulls, grebes, Cormorants, egrets, Lapwings and four Snipe noted, plus Tree Sparrows in the car park scrub. From Springfield Bridge a rush of raptors with three each of Buzzard and Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel enjoying the midday thermals bouncing off the shingle, plus Raven, Kingfisher and Yellow Wagtails.
Next stop Hanson hide where three Black-necked Grebes, six Ruff and four Blackwits were amongst the usual ducks and plovers, and more Chiffchaffs from the Willow Trail.
Dungeness - We finished off with an hour at the fishing boats and a flat calm sea that yielded few seabirds apart from several passing Sandwich Terns, Med Gulls and nine Brents, plus a close Guillemot. However, the main spectacle was a count of at least 21 Harbour Porpoises, some feeding close to shore, and two Grey Seals.
In summary, a cracking day in the field with 82 species of birds, the highlights being the chats, a Cattle Egret, a bathing Peregrine and not forgetting those porpoises.
Guillemot, Dungeness
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Cattle Egret
Lade - 0700hrs - mild, cloudy, sw 2 - Whilst emptying the garden moth trap several parties of Goldfinches went over and a Grey Wagtail. There was little of note over the pits apart from a trickle of Mipits, a few more Goldfinches, two Skylarks and several Chiffchaffs in the bushes.
Boulderwall - News came through of a Cattle Egret associating with a suckling herd close to the access road just past the old farm house. On arrival the bird was in the field amongst cattle but soon flew out and obligingly perched in a bush for ten minutes before dropping back down. More Mipits and a Yellow Wagtails were also noted, plus several groups of Swallows and at least five Kestrels.
Cattle Egret, Boulderwall
Burrowes - A call from SB told of a perplexing stint-size calidrid (well, it wouldn`t be a proper Dungeness autumn if we didn`t have one these!) on an island in front of Makepiece hide. The problem was that it was too distant to come to any positive conclusion as to its identity. It did not appear to be a juvenile Little Stint, and was probably an adult Little Stint, but I would`ve liked a closer view to eliminate Semi-p...
ARC - The usual suspects from Hanson hide included a Great White Egret, six Ruff, four Blackwits, two Black-necked Grebes and a Garganey.
Boulderwall - News came through of a Cattle Egret associating with a suckling herd close to the access road just past the old farm house. On arrival the bird was in the field amongst cattle but soon flew out and obligingly perched in a bush for ten minutes before dropping back down. More Mipits and a Yellow Wagtails were also noted, plus several groups of Swallows and at least five Kestrels.
Burrowes - A call from SB told of a perplexing stint-size calidrid (well, it wouldn`t be a proper Dungeness autumn if we didn`t have one these!) on an island in front of Makepiece hide. The problem was that it was too distant to come to any positive conclusion as to its identity. It did not appear to be a juvenile Little Stint, and was probably an adult Little Stint, but I would`ve liked a closer view to eliminate Semi-p...
ARC - The usual suspects from Hanson hide included a Great White Egret, six Ruff, four Blackwits, two Black-necked Grebes and a Garganey.
Tuesday, 30 September 2014
Jays, Buzzards and a dose of political inconsistency
Lade - 0730hrs - warm, dry and cloudy, light airs - Another glorious autumn day to finish the driest month of September on record; although looking at the forecast from the weekend onwards we could do well to make the most of it while it lasts. The garden mv held a healthy total of 80 macro moths of 13 species including all the autumn classics. Chiffchaffs were omnipresent in the garden today and we even had a Goldcrest briefly this morning.
Over the pits a light scattering of common migrants, including three Stonechats, while the first two Jays of the season were active around the willow swamp, plus 15 Long-tailed Tits and plenty more Chiffs. The `white` Buzzard that`s been knocking around the Marsh awhile was sat on the 30 foot dish, until disturbed by a `brown` Buzzard with two more circling over the airport fields. We watched a juv Marsh Harrier attempt, unsuccessfully, to take a Coot beside the main reedbed.
There remains plenty of plants in flower and a few butterflies on the wing, one of my favourites being Sea Campion which can be found in bloom pretty much throughout the year down here on the shingle.
In New Romney late morning several more Jays were noted and at least six each of Buzzard and Kestrel on the back road out towards Ivychurch.
Autumn moths, Lade
Sandwich Tern & Black-headed Gulls, Littlestone
Sea Campion, Lade (also known locally as Dolly Bells)
Littlestone Beach - 1230hrs - Checked through the waders and gulls on an incoming tide, but could only muster up six species of the former. Sandwich Terns were still present in good numbers loafing on the sandbars and a couple of pulses of Swallows headed south along the beach.
Political Expediency... - I read in The Independent on line recently that Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, and noted `bird-lover`, apparently, will not be voting on the decision to develop the ex-MoD site of Lodge Hill in north Kent, home to a substantial Nightingale population, due to, `a conflict of interest`.
Shame he didn't adopt the same high and mighty principles when deliberating on the expansion of Lydd Airport adjacent to the Dungeness National Nature Reserve. I wonder why...?
Over the pits a light scattering of common migrants, including three Stonechats, while the first two Jays of the season were active around the willow swamp, plus 15 Long-tailed Tits and plenty more Chiffs. The `white` Buzzard that`s been knocking around the Marsh awhile was sat on the 30 foot dish, until disturbed by a `brown` Buzzard with two more circling over the airport fields. We watched a juv Marsh Harrier attempt, unsuccessfully, to take a Coot beside the main reedbed.
There remains plenty of plants in flower and a few butterflies on the wing, one of my favourites being Sea Campion which can be found in bloom pretty much throughout the year down here on the shingle.
In New Romney late morning several more Jays were noted and at least six each of Buzzard and Kestrel on the back road out towards Ivychurch.
Littlestone Beach - 1230hrs - Checked through the waders and gulls on an incoming tide, but could only muster up six species of the former. Sandwich Terns were still present in good numbers loafing on the sandbars and a couple of pulses of Swallows headed south along the beach.
Political Expediency... - I read in The Independent on line recently that Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, and noted `bird-lover`, apparently, will not be voting on the decision to develop the ex-MoD site of Lodge Hill in north Kent, home to a substantial Nightingale population, due to, `a conflict of interest`.
Shame he didn't adopt the same high and mighty principles when deliberating on the expansion of Lydd Airport adjacent to the Dungeness National Nature Reserve. I wonder why...?
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